The "Tren Urbano" Begins Operations; First Accident Recorded
Following delays, the Tren Urbano or commuter train finally began operations yesterday morning, with the first train leaving the Tropigas station in Pavas at 5:08am.

The train is scheduled to run from Pavas to San Pedro each morning and afternoon during weekdays as an alternative to using cars and buses for commuters.

On the first day of operations everything went smooth, well almost.

The first train car accident was recorded at 4:40pm, when the train leaving the Estación del Pacífico rammed a taxi at the Barrio Cuba railway crossing only a short distance from the station. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

At 4:31pm, the crowd at the Estación del Pacífico in downtown San José lined up around the block for a chance to ride the train. The first afternoon train was to leave the Estación del Pacífico to make it's way to the Universidad Latina in San Pedro, however, it made its trip in the other direction, to Pavas.

According to Incofer personell, since the train ride is free (the Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos - Aresep - has yet to approve the fare) the majority of riders were not commuters, but the curious, an Incofer official questioned about the sudden change, told ICR that since the train was full of passengers on a joy ride it didn't matter in which direction the train went, adding that the Pavas route has less road crossings than the San Pedro.

Transito officials waiting on the east end of the station were stunned when they saw the train go in the opposite direction of what had been planned. Transito officials will be stationed at railway crossings along the trains route.

One Transito official told ICR that "Ticos" are not accustomed to seeing a train crossing the roadway and they are there to avoid accidents.

The Aresep approval is expected early next week which will set the fare for the ride from Pavas to San Pedro at ¢300 colones. The ride from San Pedro or Pavas to the Estación del Pacífico will cost ¢150 colones each way.